NEW YORK – Former President Donald Trump has put up a $92 million bond to ensure a jury award for writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of defamation. The bond was formally approved by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan on Tuesday, following agreement between the lawyers involved. Trump’s lawyers have appealed the verdict to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, prompting the need for the bond.
During a recent campaign rally, Trump resumed his attacks on Carroll’s credibility, claiming she had falsely accused him of rape. Carroll’s lawyer warned of the possibility of a third defamation lawsuit if Trump continued his verbal attacks. In response to the initial allegations, a jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation case in January, accepting the findings of a previous Manhattan jury that had awarded her $5 million.
Although Trump had ceased his public attacks on Carroll after the January trial, the recent appeal seems to have reignited the controversy. The jury in the previous trial concluded that Trump had defamed Carroll in 2022 and sexually assaulted her in 1996. Nevertheless, the jury did not find evidence to support the claim of rape according to New York state’s definition, although the judge deemed the findings consistent with some jurisdictions’ definition of rape.
Trump’s involvement in the trial was limited, as he was not allowed to dispute the jury’s conclusions with new evidence. However, he attended almost every day of the trial, expressing his dissatisfaction with the case even in the presence of jurors. Carroll first made her accusations against Trump public in a memoir published in 2019.
Apart from this ongoing legal battle, Trump is also facing other challenges. A recent ruling by a New York state judge ordered him to pay a $454 million civil fraud penalty. Additionally, he is currently embroiled in four criminal cases. Trump’s legal troubles continue to mount as he faces significant financial and legal consequences.
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